Multi- level thoracic disc herniations

[loiskerr]

CT Myelogram and MRI results.
-T5 T6 7mm large disc herniation
-T6 T7 5mm disc herniation
-T7 T8 3.5 paracentral spur causing deformity thercal sac
-T8 T9 disc/osteophyte complex on the right parcentral region abutting the cord.
-T9 T10 small right paracentral disc herniation and mild flattening.

Impression:
Multiple regions of disc herniation with calcification from the T5 level down to T10 causing varying degrees of spinal stenosis as well as cord flattening and abutment.

I had an Anterior Discetomy and fusion of C5 and C6. Titanium disc and plate. Recovered well some stiffness.

My Neuro said he would do the thoracic operation but doesn't want too. 15% risk of paralising me. I have not worked in two years and the pain is everyday every minute. My question is does this get worse with time? I have trouble with bladder and bowel frequency and my legs hurt, sometime I can't walk. Can't find much info on this subject so rare. Thanks any advice will help.
The "Comments" posted below are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions  
Operation or not? That is the question

[Forum-M.D.-SH]

First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.      
    The symptoms and story that you describe are consistent with a compressive myelopathy (spinal cord compression).  Disc herniations do tend to get better over time, but the question arises when there is a possibility of permanent damage to the spinal cord and/or nerve roots.  With prolonged compression, you may develop myelomalacia (atrophy/degeneration of the spinal cord) and the transient symptoms of pain, inability to walk, bowel/bladder dysfunction may become permanent.  A neurophysiologic study called a SSEP (somatosensory evoked potential- median and tibial) may help determine the degree of myelopathy (spinal cord dysfunction) that you have.  If your symptoms are progressive (getting worse) then you will likely need surgery.  If your symptoms are improving then I would suggest the SSEP and repeat imaging, and based on the results of these tests then a decision about surgery can be made.  I hope this has been helpful.

[JCmcc]

Dear Friend,
Please be advised that I am not responding to you as a physician and that I am not advising you and that what I write is not meant to be construed as medical advice or a replacement from the forum neurologist, et al.
With that said I would suggest a consideration of two non-surgical approaches:
1. The DRX9000 and you would want to google that for your locale.
2. Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic. You may want to google that for your own research.

I think that you can get around this without the use of surgery and I highly recommend the DRX.

I hope that this has been and will be helpful.


Good Luck!
JCmcc.

[loiskerr]

Thank you for the response. I'm having a real hard time with finding info. I will have my neurolgist do the SSEP test. I have had EVPS and EMG which really helped on the neck operation. Thank again Lois

[jej]

you have been responding to [spinal stenosis]...i had 3-4 and 6-7 fused with hardware,plates 3-4. your neck stiffness will get better with time...my bladder and legs that left with 6-7 inpinging on spinal cord came back to a certain degree over time...as soon as your thorasic is done i am confident with physical therapy and time that your bladder will inprove...mine did and they said it would not...keep the faith LOIS..ANYTHING we want bad enough is possible..do not beleive in giving up...i did'nt and i am keeping tabs on your progress...when do you go in for your thorasis? are you waiting till spring? are you sure that is wise considering your bladder and bowel? i am not a doctor so maybe this is ok with them...will let you know how it went for me today....keep the faith...jej

[loiskerr]

Hey thanks for your thoughts. I can't find much advise on this operation. Very rare. It's real nice to hear someone has been there. As far as waiting I live in Michigan and the snow and ice have been real bad. So the neuro said lets wait alittle for the thoracic. It has only been 5 months since my neck operation. C5 and C6. I do have a great attitude which is why my neurogist thinks I will rock this next one. So today I made an appoinment for Monday to schedule the operation for May.
Do you know anyone who has had a muti level thoracic operation? I need six levels. T5 through T10. This is what scares me. But they won't get me down. No matter what happens I will get through what ever is dished to me. My faith is strong and I'm to mean to die! LOL I will repost as the news comes in. Thanks I needed your thoughts. Lois

[jej]

left you a message on my thread[spinal stenosis surgery?]you will be ok ..i have had disc deteration for years at least 17..was a millwright..after surgery and recovery ..played a little golf...hut but oh well.i also have mylopothy[spelling]? you will be fine....my wife is reseaching about your condition...mwe have 3 registered nurses who can help her if she needs it ...will get back to you...thinking and praying for you...WE will not give up...so be positive...jej

[jej]

did you see neuro comment on my thread? i am taking it with me to the doctors today..maybe they will get me a neoro-surgeon with this...i pray so...still resarching for you...wife... have a great day today lois....jej

[loiskerr]

Yes I read it. It was the firat thing I looked for today. That is great. Where do you live? I have the best neuro in the US and he is in Michigan. Dr. Teck Mun Soo. Let me know what happens. I'm praying. Lois

[jej]

look in my thread...left a message for you...my son in law head of nursing at ku university...he knows good surgeons and has alot of pull..we live in missouri....ran out of room on my message ...we are praying for you ..i have my son in law ask surgeons,he knows them well about your condition on tuesday ...he works that day...will find out all i can...my wife says if i fall one more time she is calling ambulance to take me to k.u.shes on a mission to get me help..pray for our soldiers lois ...i don't think alot of them will be the same...praying for you and will get info about your condition...nurses sometimes in hospitals know alot more after doctors do the surgery...thanks for all your support..praying for you...jej

[jej]

ps...the reason i startrd going to veterans was because my medications with insurance was costing me $1000. a month..i get them for free at v.a....now i wonder with this problem if this was the right choice..it seemed to be at the time.you cannot predict the future.hope you are having a good day. Lois i was wondering with your losing your bladder if it is wise to wait for you surgery...does your doctor know you are losing you bladder and bowel functions? just worried.praying for you..jej

[loiskerr]

Yes he know not going to wait long just for the ice to melt. My brother in law got hurt in the navy and has had many like 6 operations and has switched to the VA as well do to high cost. I'm going to call him to get advise or him to go to your thread he was a big shot. Maybe he can help. Praying Lois

[jej]

i am sorry you are having a bad day.i feel for you.tomarrow will be better.had a bad night myself.i am going to get ahold of my congressman monday.see what i can do for these men and woman..i told the advocate to help this man,she just looked at me.maybe i will picket the va.i am so mad at what they did to those guys and woman.some got the experimental inoculation and the other did not..the ones are dying.why would they do that.?i am going to do something..took a 81 year old home or my wife did ..he had a stoke and had no way home..i am appalled..lois back to you i hope you allow yourself to have a bad day and tomarrow will be better..sorry to hear about your brother in law..hope he is ok.I WILL GET THE CARE I NEED..OR THEY WILL SEE ME DAILY!!!!!!you are right er do take better care of our pets than vets..but you concentrate on yourself.we can all address later ..when we can fight for them.praying for you and yes they did empty my bladder.jej

[jej]

lois i hope your pain is better today...beleive me i know how you feel..they ask what your pain level is and i say 12..i hope it is better today.i have had to go into emergency because of pain..they gave me toradol[shot]it does not take it all away but gets it a little under control.tomarrow you have dr. appt.[just my thoughts]if your pain is still at a high level you might ask your doc for a shot..when i had great neuro-sureon 10 years ago he told me once pain gets so bad and out of control..its VERY hard to get it at least bearable...praying for you..jej

[loiskerr]

Well today is better the sun is shinning and I got up today and got moving. The old saying is a squicky wheel gets oil. So go make some noise. I have enough meds to make a horse feel better so I won't do the shots. I always have a bad reation to the shots not worth it.

The doc thinks one of the hernations are sitting on an allergy nerve and I am now allergist to many chemicals and some weird things. On top of my back **** I have blisters all over me from chemical floating in the air. Great! Now they think I can't wear cotton anymore and I can't eat eggs. Are they kidding me. I carry alot of emercency meds so I don't drop dead. Man the spine sure controls everything.

God doesn't give us more than we can handle and I quess I'm suppose to help others in my condision. Hope you are feeling better and give then hell. Lois

[jej]

good lord you are having a nightmare of a time..hope you still have your dr appy tomarrow...do you carry a epi -pin[shot] in case your throat closes ?not trying to scare you.yea the neck does really mess you up..i have never heard of what you are going thru though.tell me what doctor says tomarrow...think of youself right now lois.we will be fine..as they say god does'nt give us more than we can handle...sometimes hard to relate to that but it is true...really worried about you so take it easy..will be thinking of you..and praying for you.you are gonna be FINE...fighting spirit lois.jej

[jej]

when did this start?have you been given any new. meds lately..they gave me methodone and it shut down my liver very fast....fine now..never heard of this..allergy from spine...my allergies have been horiffic last 2 months..cannot get them under control.ask doc about possible new meds?thinking of you.jej

[loiskerr]

I have been on medical for 2 years, being allergic to my job. Get that one. I went to 22 docs and the Mayo clinic all said nothing we can do but give you epipens (6) and inhauler. They are very supportive and really just don't know how to help me. I hope when I fix my thoracic some of the weird allergies will go away. Both of my problems are very very rare. I see a world renoun Enviromental doc who has saved my life and my allergist. However I'm allergic to most meds and all allergy meds except benydral. 1 in a million people on both ailments. Most docs are so intriged by my health then say sorry I can't help you and ask if I see an Enviormental doc and I tell then who and they all say well he is the best in the world. So Dr.Harbut and I are doing medical trials to figure this all out.

How are you feeling today? Better I pray.
Will fill you in on the doc appoinment tomarrow. Lois

[jej]

not a good day .but it sounds better than yours.did your allergy senstivity start when your spine starded?my wife is allergic to so many medications..almost died.she gets parinoid if she has to start something new.can't say i blame her..i pray it will go away after your thorasic is dealt with...i miss work i am so bored.only watching t.v. and computer kinda gets boring..but no pity partys ...honestly lois.with your bladder and bowel problems and legs ..i lost all mine and lost legs completely 10-12 yrs ago because of cervical impingement on my spinal cord..they did improve and come back...after surgery..it takes awile but they do come back..maybe not as strong as before.but thats livable.i am trying to give you the truth and encouagement that after your surgery and time you will be off and running..i even played golf...not such a swift thing to do...hurt but love the sport.daily i saw progress and so will you.2 weeks after surgery outside walking with walker..before could not walk..so keep the faith...bladder took a little longer..but it came back good...it will be that way for you to.i am possitive person.you sound like one too..let me know what the doctor says..man you have been to enough of them..22 doc and probly more.praying for you jej

[loiskerr]

Well back from the doc and after 45 min. we have decided to go ahead with the operation. Many scary things to concider. But I will end up losing the bowel and bladder and could put myself in a wheelchair. So I have nothing to lose. So I guess it time to plan the whole thing out. Scary too. I will need alot of help. I'm going to chat with a patient advocat to help with the cost till one of my suits or workers comp kicks in. What a pain in my butt. I feel better after talking to him, again he said he weighs all the options and my great attitude is what makes him think I will do great. I hope you are ok you havn't posted today so I will pray for your health. I hope you are in the hospital and someone is helping you. God Bless and keep me posted. Lois

[jej]

i have been waiting for the results from your dr.appt..i know it is scary..beleive me i know.my wife had to quit her job to help me..hate it that you have to have a stranger..but we have to do what we have to do.i am so glad you are getting it done soon ..worried about waiting to long.permanent damage ..but with your attitude and trust in your surgeon ..you are gonna do great.i loved and trusted my other sureon.it makes all the difference..lois you have that i am not gonna give up attitude and it makes the world of difference.you listen to the 'i can't help you' and move to a doc that can .you will do great.is this workers comp.?if so maybe they can get help for you.they should.your gonna do ok lois.my first surgery i was so scared.did'nt know a thing about this stuff.now i do.educating yourself is scary to a point but i feel better being educated.my wife got my records today.gonna call up neuroligist and demand he put me in hospital,,he wanted to do a sleep apnea test on me.i cannot sleep because i hurt and the meds do not take away the pain.the doc. told my nuero i did not have apnea.iwill not sleep with that thing on my face.sometimes they are so stupid ,especially the v.a.more people are hearing about that annoculation they gave to our soldiers..if they don't put me in hospital my wife says she will call ambulance to take me to k.u. weds.i know al;ot about workers comp.lois ...alot.praying for you jej

[loiskerr]

Thanks for the nice thoughts. I was thinking your wife called the amblunce already. OK I was hoping. My boyfriend will help alot he is the king of helping and he can cook! LOL But he has only so much vaca. I have many friends at Applebee's, all my employee's said they would make a schedule and take care of me. How great is that! After two years of being off work they are begging me to come back. What a great feeling. I was a General Manager and the big boss. They thought I was mean but I ran the best (well 11th) best resturant in the US which I was very proud of. I just want to go back. OK I fell off a ten foot high dumpster. Boy was that dumb. My work put me on disability for now and am trying for workers comp. got a lawyer when BCBS started asking questions after the neck operation. My lawyer thinks I have three cases. Who knows that is for them to figure out, my boss said it doesn't matter someone will have to pay that he does know. The whole company is very supportive right up to the CEO. We will see when the suit goes through who still loves me. LOL I hope your day is better and I'll check in on Tues. Good luck if you do go and I will put you in my special prayers. Tell your wife I said hello! and good job. (our helper don't get much credit) Lois

[jej]

hey its 2:30 am can't sleep.stay of the dumpsters lois..no more dumpster divin girl.ha ha.you should be proud of yourslf .love applebees ..11th in the country.you should be proud.your not mean lois,you just expect your workers to do their job. i am the same way.if your gonna do it ..give 100 % and do it right.thats why i was hurt years ago tried to catch a 100 lb fixture when someone had it on forklift wrong.instinct.stupid.it sounds like workers comp. lois if you did it on the job.but you have enough on your plate.let the lawers take care of it.we to outback last night.first time i took my wife out to eat since last summer i think.Its been that long.i almost fell into 2 people.that concerns me ,i do not want to hurt anyone else.if my wife had her way she would have had the ambulance pick me up last month.she says weds. period.i am trying to get the v.a. to send me but she does'nt care.Weds her deadline.she got all my records and went through them yesterday.c3-4 .9 spinal cord stenosis and possible problem with my plating.c5-6 .9compression.c6-7 problem spurring..c7-t1 real problem .9 compression.she compares last years mri they went from 1.3 cm to .9...severe spinal stenosis.she wanted records.they usually mail them.she came home with them.shes gonna keep them in her purse.ha. she has a big purse.she carries all my stuff..wallet ,glasses etc.Hey lois it sound like you have a great boyfriend.we are lucky.and it sound like your friends at work are great...you though you were mean and they liked and respected you.it sounds like you are all set ..now sit back and don't worry.you will be fine.did you set a date for surgery?my wife says she will let you know if i go into hospital and give you results.i just want to go have the surgery,recover and get on with my life.i know you do too.i am 100% disabled since i had accident 1996..i have medicare a/b...never rely on just that for medical care.i ddropped other insurance when i went to va..regret that.system stinks.well a little sleepy..sorry rambled on.glad your dr ppt went so well....your gonna be fine..keep the faith..gonna be 75 degrees here today..nice..warm..cold kills me..jej

[loiskerr]

Well your spirit sounds good and up. Thats great. I more day till Wed. Tell your wife thanks for the updates in advance. I would love to chat with her while you are in. Bill is in Cleveland this week so I'm real bored. I should be catching up on all the paperwork but it is 70 here and I have spring fever, ok just lazy. I'm not going to schedule the op. yet. I'm going to meet with someone from the hospital first to see how to cover the costs and find some help. I here the advocates help alot. At least I will have some idea of the cost with my new ins I have no idea. In the long run WComp will pay but that is down the road. The lawyer said two years meanwhile I'm left hanging. So I was thinking I will pay the copays and get the money lator. Not much more I can do. If I wait two years for the settlement I will be pissing my pants in a wheelchair!! LOL My blisters are so bad right now I wish I could peel my skin off and start over. I don't know how Bill puts up with all this. He claims he doesn't care but I'm not the woman he fell in love with. My plan is to be hot and 50!! So I'm fours out from my goal. I guess I need to work that plan. Loose weight, fix my allergies and my back. I'll make it. My brother called from NC and said he found another chemical for me to look into. BHT well pulled it up on line and YES I'm allergic to it. Great another thing that is in everything. We should switch to email for our chats. ***@****. That way I won't run off the page. Do you have email? Ok back to the paperwork and laundry. Hope you feel better and can't wait to hear how you do. Hey the hospital wouldn't let me leave after I went to ER so maybe that is a good plan. I'll pray and have a great trip or ride. Your new friend Lois

[jej]

yea ..i think e-mail will be good..spooker849 @sbcglobal.net.i run out of room too..when you went to er they kepy you in the hospital?i hope so lois..last year fell off porch taken to ku ct scan on head and they sent me home...have 4 calls into va..called neuro doc on monday..you know lois i don't know how they can sleep at night..my drug rep loves my wife [jackie] and she works at va and she can't even believe i haven't had surgery. my name is bob...all the b or r 's were already used..on this forum so had to use jackies initials.yes it does feel like we have become friends over a short period of time ..its great...someone you can talk too and help each other...well tomarrows the day...i hope they keep me..hey lois you should have no financial problems with your surgery..i did'nt and it was a big weight off my mind...if you need to talk to you attorney and let him do the work..you have enough.i had a lawyer for 6 years..nuero- sureon told me to get one 6 times before i did..he said workers comp would not give me proper care.you sound pretty chipper today too...its time to get things moving for you and get back to livin...don't make fun of spooker[my dogs namewhen i was a kid even ran away from home with me for a day ha ha...came to school with me too.jackie will up-date you if they keep me ..she ids loaded with all 300 peices of paper for 2 years in her big purse..it weighs a ton..ha..my files from v.a. well jackies gonna fill up the car ...she talked to me and told me she is not gonna see me in a wheel chair if she has anything to say about it..she has researched that i can anytime lose my legs. don't worry jackie does enough..i will be fine and so will you ..she worries about you too.she went on the oprah web to ask her to do a show about our health system today..the va and the troops in iraq...their care...montel williams she told me had a show on it today...hope it helps.well gal order a pizza and veg out with a good flick..ha.keep the faith..jej   out of room ha

[jej]

my typing is horrible.my hands are numb too[i am gonna use that as the excuse]true though.e-mail....***@****  I think i put it wrong you keep your spirits up .I am trying the good weather helps.heres to new friends..keep the faith.jej...bob

[loiskerr]

Posting on email. Good luck! Lois